Photocomposing machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for producing lines of predetermined length, angularity and thickness on photographic film or paper with precision. The machine employs a film-receiving platform and means to drive this platform along a linear path and to turn it on a rotational axis. A portable film holder serves to transport film to and from the machine with the film protected from exposure to light and serves the dual purpose of constituting a closure for the lighttight body of the machine while the film is released onto the movable platform. Readily interchangeable units are mountable on the main body of the machine for producing lines and indicia characters, respectively. A separate device is employed by a draftsman to produce a program upon which a given sequence of operations of the machine is based. The machine is useful in the production of business forms, charts, printed circuits and similar articles where a master film is used directly in the manufacturing process.

0 United; States Fatet [151 3,635,138 Melony [451 Jan. 18, 1972 [s41 PHQTQCQMPUSENG MAQHINE 3,566,763 3/1971 Knopf ..355/95 x [72] Inventor: Forrest S Mabry, 4009 St. John's Lane, Primary Examiner samuel s. Manhews Emma Clty 21043 Assistant Examiner-Robert P. Greiner 22 Filed: Oct. 15, 1970 ry. Y & Gales 1 pp 81,068 57 ABSTRACT A machine for producing lines of predetermined length, angu- U-S- CB- ..'.95/12 la ity and {higkness on photographic or paper preci- 35 /86 sion. The machine employs a film-receiving platform and [51] int. Cl. ..B41b 13/10, B4lb 15/06, B4lb 21/20 means to drive this platform along a linear path and to turn it [58] Field oi Search ..95/12, 4.5; 355/72, 78, 79, on a rotational axis. A portable film holder serves to transport 355/85, 86, 53, 95 film to and from the machine with the film protected from exposure to light and serves the dual purpose of constituting a [56] References Cited closure for the lighttight body of the machine while the film is released onto the movable platform. Readily interchangeable UNITED STATES PATENTS units are mountable on the main body of the machine for 1,414,280 4/1922 Huebner ..355/86 pmd'wing i and indici respectively A 2,713,723 7/1955 Anderson ..33/78 sepme deme empl9yed by a a 3 103 849 9/1963 wise n 95/12 gram upon which a given sequence of operauons of the 3233509 2/1966 swi machine is based. The machine is useful in the production of 3241472 3 1966 R business forms, charts, printed circuits and similar articles l o emon 355/95 where a master film is used directly in the manufacturing 3,261,099 7/ 1966 Blake ..33/7 8 Process 3,353,469 11/1967 Grover ..355/86 X 3,458,253 7/ 1969 15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Hansen ..95/ l2 UX Pmimimmamz 316351133 SHEET 1 OF 5 INVENTOR FORREST S. IABRY BY 6304,, 4 733,6 (Au ATTORNEYS PATENTEU .mu 8 1972 SHEET 2 0F 5 MEWS? I FORREST 3 MABRY PATENTEU JMH 81972 SHEET 3 OF 5 llllm.

INVENTOR FORREST S. MABRY PATENTEDJa-xwm $635138 SHEET u 0F 5 INVENTOR 35 I FORREST s. MABRY ATTORNEYS PATENTEB JAN 8 I972 SHEET 5 OF 5 N M V W T S E R R 0 CI ATTORNEYS FHDTGCDMFOSING MACHINE The objective of the invention is to provide a photocomposing machine useful in the production of business forms, charts, printed circuits and the like which is uncomplicated and quite economical in construction compared to the prior art and yet possesses a high degree of precision and reliability. Another object is to provide a machine for producing lines and indicia characters on film which does not require a high degree of skill to operate and whose initial cost is not prohibitive so that many business establishments which might ordinarily shun expensive photocomposing machines can readily equip themselves with the machine embodied inthis invention.

A very important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the machine is operated in daylight and may be loaded or unloaded with photographic film or paper in daylight. The machine features a unique film holder and carrier which is lighttight and this element serves as a closure for the main lighttight body of the machine after depositing of the film or paper therein.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photocomposing machine embodying the invention with the line-making attachment or unit in the operative position.

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the machine with the letter or character making unit in place thereon.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken through the main lighttight body of the machine, with parts broken away and parts in elevation.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, partly in elevation,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken transversely through the line-making unit taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a composite cross-sectional view through a portable film holder, showing the same in relation to a removable film platform in the machine before the film is deposited on the latter.

FIG. 8 is a similar view of the same components showing the film deposited on the platform and magnetically held thereon and the film holder acting as a closure for the main lighttight box or body of the machine.

FIG. 9 is a central vertical cross-sectional view through the character or indicia-making attachment unit.

FIG. 10 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 10l0 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a programming device utilized with the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral 15 designates a main body or housing for the machine which is relatively shallow in height and generally rectangular and in the form of a lighttight box. The main body or housing 15 is employed with two independent attachment units shown in their entireties at 16 and 17 in FIGS. l and 2, respectively. The unit 16 is utilized to produce lines of any desired length, thickness and angularity at any point on photographic film or paper, as will be fully described. The attachment unit 17 is employed to produce letters, numerals or other characters at desired points on the film or paper. The lighttight housing 15 contains means to support the film or paper and to move it relative to the units 16 and 17, as will now be described.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 3 through 6, the housing contains a pair of parallel widely spaced guides or ways 18 extending from front to back and having their opposite ends firmly secured to a fixed plate 19 near the back of the housing and to a structural web 20 near the front thereof. A carriage 21 is movably mounted on the ways 18 to travel lengthwise thereon in either direction and the carriage is propelled forwardly or rearwardly by a lead screw 22 having threaded engagement with an upstanding lug 23 on the carriage 21. The forward end of the lead screw 22 is equipped with a manual control knob 24 and above this control knob a conventional digital counter 25 in ready view of the operator indicates the linear position of the carriage 21 at all times. The counter 25 is conventionally geared to the lead screw 22 and the latter is suitably journaled on the housing I5. In some instances, the lead screw 22 may be motor driven at least up to the point where a final carriage adjustment may be accurately achieved by manipulating the knob 24.

As best shown in FIG. -4, the carriage 21 has a central hub 26 extending above and below its main horizontal plate portion, and within this hub is a tubular rotary shaft 27 having a worm gear 28 attached to its upper end and slidably contacting the top of the hub 26. The lower end of the tubular shaft carries a collar 29 secured adjustably thereto by a setscrew. The worm gear 28 is turned in either direction by a worm 30 on a short shaft 31 journaled in bearing extensions 32 on the carriage 21, FIG. 3. The forward end of the shaft 31 carries a spur gear 33 in mesh with a long parallel axis pinion gear 34 which is substantially coextensive with the ways 18 and parallel thereto and suitably supported for rotation at its opposite ends, preferably on the elements I9 and 20. The gear 33 is shiftable along the length of the pinion 34 in either direction with movement of the carriage 21 and the gear 33 remains in mesh with the pinion 34 at all times.

A platform spindle 35 extends rotatably through the tubular shaft 27 and carries at its top end a rectangular plate support or platform 36 for photographic film or paper. The platform 36 is equipped at its four comers with permanent magnets 37 whose purpose will be described. The platform 36 which moves in a linear path with the carriage 21 is caused to rotate on the vertical axis of the spindle 35 by the engagement of a depending drive pin 38 on the platform with spokes 39 of the worm gear 28, FIG. 3.

The platform 36 is normally biased upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4 where lines are being produced photographically on a film or on sensitized paper mounted on the platform by a pair of gears 40 carried by the forward and rear ends of a shaft 41 suitably supported for rotation near the bottom of the housing 15, this shaft being parallel to the ways 18. The gears 40 are in mesh with short upstanding rack bars 42, carried by a U-shaped lifting frame 43 whose main longitudinal member engages and supports the bottom of spindle 35 and consequently the platform 36. Front and rear lateral arms 44 of this lifting frame are pivoted at 45 to the bottom wall of the housing 15. A retractile spring 46 near the rear of the housing 15 is connected to a short crank arm 47 on the shaft 41 and thus serves to bias the rack bars 42 and lifting frame 43 upwardly.

In order to depress the lifting frame 43 and thereby lower the platform 36 to a safe position for movement with the carriage 21 without scratching the film, a short shaft 48 is journaled on the forward walls of the housing 15 and carries an external turning knob 49, and also carries at its rear end an eccentric cam 50 which bears directly on the lifting frame 43. Turning of the knob 49 from its position shown in the drawings will cause the cam 50 to depress the frame 43 and lower the platform 36 against the force of the spring 46.

Intermediate its ends, the shaft 48 carries a second cam 51 which is essentially rectangular, FIG. 6, and upon turning of the same knob 49, the cam 51 releases a locking linkage which normally locks gears 52 on the forward end portions of the lead screw 22 and pinion 34 so that these elements cannot be turned accidentally when the platform 36 is positioned both longitudinally and angularly for the making of a particular line on film or paper carried by the platform 36. Referring to FIG. 6, a pair of vertical links 53 having lower end pivots 54 are biased outwardly at their tops by springs 55 suitably connected with fixed structure in the housing. Each link 53 carries a single locking tooth 56 on its outer side engageable between teeth of the gears 52 to normally rig dly lock the latter. Opposing cross links 57 and 58 pivotally connected at 59 to the top ends of the links 53 are also connected at 60 to the tops of an additional pair of links -61 bearing on opposite sides of the cam 51 and having lower end pivo s 62 attached to fixed structure. Upon turning of the knob 49 90 from its position shown in the drawings, the oblong rectangular cam 51 will also turn 90 and spread the tops of the links 61, thus drawing the opposing links 57 and 53 inwardly and separating the locking teeth 56 from the gears 52 to free these gears and the elements 22 and 34 with which they are connected. This unlocking of the platfonn 36 and its driving means occurs simultaneously with the depressing of the frame 43 to lower the platform for safe movement with the carriage 21 and for safe turning with the gear 28 without marring the film or paper. As stated, the platform 36 is biased up while the linkage shown in FIG. 6 is biased to the active locking position.

Referring now to the line making or projecting unit 16 previously identified, this unit embodies a rectangular light box 63 which is adapted to rest removably on top of the housing between two locator bars 64 which are fixed on the main housing. The box 63 contains in its top a group of light bulbs 65, which group spans a major portion of the length of the unit 16 across the main housing 15. immediately below the group of light bulbs 65 within the box 63 is a light collimator having plural spaced parallel baffles 66, as shown, causing the rays of light to be directed onto the film supported on the platform 36 substantially perpendicular to the film.

Below the collimator at the bottom of the unit 16 is disposed a pair of generally Z-shaped bars 67 whose lower opposing parallel edges define a variable width light slit 68. The bars 67 and light slit extend for the full length of the collimator and the illuminating means 65 in the box 63. The bars 67 have upper flanges 69 interfitting with plates 70 along opposite sides of the box 63 to form light seals. The opposing bars 67 are shifted laterally to vary the width of the light slit 68 by means of vertically swinging links 71 at opposite ends of the collimator having their tops pivoted as at 72 to vertical walls 73 within the box 63 spaced from its ends. Rotary shafts 74 in the end portions of the box 63 carry forward turning knobs 75 and are joumaled for rotation on bearing brackets 76 within the box 63 attached to the walls 73. Each shaft 74 has a rightand left-hand screw-threaded section 77, FIG. 5, engaging rightand left-hand threaded nuts 78 whose outer sides bear against projecting pins 79 on the links or arms 71. A retractile spring 80 interconnects the links 71 near their lower ends and tends to bias the bars 67 toward engagement. Turning of the knobs 75 and their shafts 74 in one direction will cause separation of the bars 67 and a corresponding widening of the slit 68. Reverse turning of the knobs will reduce the width of the slit so that as fine a line or as thick a line as is desired may be projected onto the film or paper.

The unit 16 embodies another means for establishing the end points of a particular line being projected and this means comprises a pair of coacting flexible shutters 81 in the form of metal tapes or the like stored in end compartments 82 of the box 63. One such shutter and its compartment are shown in H6. 4 and an identical arrangement is provided at the opposite end of the unit 16. One end of each flexible shutter 81 is anchored as at 83 in the bottom of the compartment 82 and the other end of the shutter is secured to a manual slider 84 projecting from the front of the unit 16, FIG. ll. By manipulating the two shutter sliders 84 transversely of the machine, the length of any line may be precisely established and the line may be bodily shifted transversely of the machine for projection onto the film carried by the platform 36 at the desired location. This, combined with the adjustable slit 6% and the movement of the carriage 21 in the linear path and the rotational movement of the platform 36, allows the projection onto the film or paper of a line of any thickness and any length at any angle and at any location on the film, all with great dimensional precision. it has been mentioned that the lead screw 22. may in some cases be motor driven. It is also feasible to drive the pinion 34 and associated gearing by power means, if desired. However, manual operation of the knobs 75 and sliders 84 and other adjustable components is entirely adequate. Adjacent the sliders 84 on the front of the unit 16 a line length measuring scale 85 is provided whose scale graduations may register selectively with the perpendicular edges of the two sliders. As shown, the rotary knobs 75 which adjust the light slit 68 may have conventional adjustment scales marked thereon. Additionally, another digital counter 86 similar to the counter 25 is coupled to the shaft of pinion 34 to indicate accurately the angular disposition of the rotary plat- ,form 36. A further control is embodied in another digital counter 87 at a convenient point on the housing 15 to make an accurate count of the. number of exposures embodied in the production of a particular article, such as a business form or a printed circuit master film. There will be a separate exposure for each line produced or for each indicia character produced.

In connection with the producing of letters, numerals or other indicia characters on the film or paper, the attachment unit 17 is substituted for the line projecting unit 16 on the main housing 15, see FIG. 2. The unit 17 comprises, very simply, an elongated boxlike body or support 88 which engages snugly and removably between the locator bars 64 and rests upon the top of main housing 15 which has a large rectangular opening directly beneath the units 16 and 17, such opening being visible at 89 in FIG. 3. The bottom of the body 88 also has a large slot or opening 90. Fixed within the body 88 are parallel ways 91 upon which is slidably mounted a support or carriage 92 having an upstanding tubular portion 93, upon which rests a plate holder 94 for a rotary disc or wheel 95 pivoted thereto by a removable pin 96, allowing the wheel 95 to be readily replaced with another wheel having a different set of indicia characters. Each wheel 95 has a circumferential group of light-transmitting window elements 97, each having an indicia character, such as a letter or numeral, thereon. The elements 97 may be film and the indicia characters are transparent so that light in the form of particular indicia characters can be projected down onto the film on the platform 36.

Characters are selected by rotating the disc 95 on the axis of pin 96 until a given element 97 is aligned with the bore 98 of tubular portion 93. This tubular portion may also contain a suitable projection lens, not shown. Atop the plate holder 94 of rotary disc 95 is a light housing 99 having a top illuminating source 100 in the form of a light bulb. A flexible opaque curtain 101 attached to opposite sides of the carriage 92 rides in light-trapping grooves 102 provided in the top of body 88, FIG. 10, to block the entrance of extraneous light into the machine. The curtain 101 winds into rollers 101', FIG. 9. The curtain is maintained taut by the action of a cord 102 also wound separately on the rollers 101' and having a retractile spring 103 connected therein. The entire unit 17, like the previously described unit 16, is self-contained with a source of light and full adjustment features, as described.

In order to shift the carriage 92 back and forth on the ways 91, preferably the carriage structure is equipped with a manual clutching and declutching arrangement including operating extensions 104, FIG. 2, which are gripped by the fingers and drawn together to declutch the carriage 92 from a threaded rod on the unit above the body 88. The threads have a pitch or spacing of 0.050 inches so that the clutching mechanism can be moved only in 0.050 inch steps along the rod 105. When the extensions 104 are released, the carriage 92 will be locked securely to the rod 105 in the selected laterally adjusted position with respect to the main housing 15 and film platform 36. Other forms of lateral adjusting means for the carriage 92 may also be employed, if preferred. A scale member 106 spans the top of the unit 17, FIG. 2, to enable the operator to observe the precise position of the carriage 92 and the character projection means thereon at all times so that projections can be made in accordance with a program, to be described.

The machine further embodies as an important feature a film holder and transporter 107 which functions somewhat in the manner of a film cassette in protecting the fiim or sensitized paper from exposure to light during loading and unloading operations and while transporting the film to a dark room for development after the projection procedure is completed. The portable unit 107 is in the form of a substantially rigid rectangular plate 108, equipped with a carrying handle 109, FlGS. 7 and 8. The plate 108 serves the dual func tion of cover or closure for a large rectangular opening 110 formed in the top of housing near the rear thereof. When serving as a closure, the plate 108 fits snugly into a recess 111 in the housing top wall 11.2 surrounding the opening 110. This arrangement effectively prevents outside light from entering the housing 15.

The film hoiding unit 107 further embodies near its four comers spring-loaded rotary-type quick release fasteners 113, the feet 114 of which in one position, FIG. 7, engage beneath a film holding plate 115 formed of paramagnetic material to which the actual film or sensitized paper 116 may be secured with adhesive tape or the like. With the fasteners 113 turned to the positions in FIG. 7, the film 116 is firmly sandwiched between the elements 108 and 115 and therefore fully protected from exposure to light. When a fresh unexposed film is loaded into the machine, the fasteners 113 are rotated 180 to the positions shown in FIG. 8 and this will release thefilm and its carrier plate 115, which elements now drop as a unit directly onto the platform 36 and are attracted thereto bythe previously described magnets 37. Simultaneously, the fastener feet 114 will engage beneath the adjacent flange portion of housing top wall 112 and the plate 108 serves as a lighttight cover for the main housing during the subsequent line making and indicia character making operations. The platform 36 is positioned in the rear portion of the housing 15 when being loaded with film, by means of the film holding unit 107, as above-described. As soon as the film is deposited onto the platform 36 and the lighttight cover plate 108 is in place, the carriage 21 may be driven forwardly to any required position and the magnets 37 will assure the adherence of the film to the platform 36 in all adjusted positions of the latter.

FIG. 11 depicts a separate device to aid in establishing a desired program for the operation of the machine to produce a desired chart, form or master film for a given product. The programming device embodies a base 117 upon which is mounted a turntable 118 graduated in degrees as at 119. A scale 120 movable along a right angular guide bar 121 is used to establish the beginning and end points of each line on a sketch which may be taped to the turntable 118. Another scale 122, perpendicular to the scale 120, is provided and at the particular point where the scale 120 crosses the scale 122 the grid position of a given line is designated on the scale 122. The degree scale 119 on the turntable denotes the angular position of the table when the line in question is parallel to scale 120.

The sketch of lines on the turntable 1 18 is thus scanned, line by line, bringing each line parallel to the scale 120 by revolving the turntable 118 and then reading off the appropriate data. The resulting program produced will be similar to the following example:

In using the machine, the operator first loads it with a piece of unexposed film, as described. The line making unit 116 is mounted upon the main housing 15 and the adjustments are made as described for establishing the width or thickness of the line as determined by the slit 68 and the length and lateral position of the line as determined by the two flexible shutters 81 operated by sliders 84. In addition to adjusting the controls on the unit 16, the operator will utilize the controls which adjust the carriage 21 to the proper linear position on the ways 18 and to the proper angular position as established by the position of the gear 28. In this manner, each line can be projected at precisely the desired location on the film carried by the platform 36 and each line so projected can be an exact prescribed length, thickness and can have the desired angularity relative to other lines. The data which has been established in the program by using the program device in FIG. 8 is followed when producing each line and making each exposure. Each exposure will have a number which will be recorded on the counter 87 and each line will have a specified grid number, starting point, ending point, width and angle, taken from the program.

Each separate exposure is initiated and timed by a conventional exposure meter, not shown, electrically connected with the illuminating means 65 in the unit 16 by a cable 123, FIG. 3. A' separate exposure is required for each line produced on the film or each indicia character impressed thereon.

When the line work is thus completed, the character producing unit 17 replaces the unit 16 and the disc is rotated to bring the desired character into optical alignment with the projector bore 98. The carriage 92 may then be adjusted laterally to any point along the scale 106 and the film holding platform 36 may also be moved linearly and angularly so that a character may be projected onto the film at any precise location. In some cases, the work being produced may require only lines, in which event only the unit 16 need be employed. In other cases, lettering and numerals and the like may be done by hand rather than by means of the unit 17.

The machine is provided with precision controls, as described, and yet is relatively inexpensive in construction and easy to use even by unskilled personnel. It is highly versatile in its usage and satisfies a need in the art not heretofore satisfied by more complex and costly devices.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1. A machine for producing lines on photographic film and the like comprising a base unit, a film supporting platform in the base unit, means to drive the platform in opposite directions on a rectilinear path, means to turn the platform on a rotational axis substantially normal to the plane of the platform, a relatively stationary projection unit removably mounted on the base unit and having projection light means, adjustable means on the projection unit defining a variable width light slit in the bottom of the unit beneath the projection light means, adjustable shutter means associated with the lastnamed means on the projection unit to vary the length and starting and ending points of the light slit, said base unit having an access opening and said platform movable to a position adjacent the access opening, and a carrier for a piece of sensitized film or the like adapted to transfer the film to a position over the platform and to release the film onto the platform, the carrier then serving as a closure for the access opening.

2. The structure of claim 1, and a second projection unit removably mountable on the base unit in replacement of the first-named projection unit and having adjustable means to project indicia characters of varying form onto said film or the like at various predetermined locations on the film.

3. The structure of claim 1, and said film carrier embodying rotary latches which serve in one position to secure said film to the bottom of the carrier and in a second position to secure the carrier to a wall of the base unit in covering relation to the access opening, said fasteners in said second position releasing the film onto said platform in the base unit.

4. The structure of claim 3, and a paramagnetic film supporting plate on the side of the film remote from the carrier, and magnet means on the platform adapted to attract the film supporting plate to the platform and to secure the film against movement relative to the platform during adjustment of the platform.

5. The structure of claim 1, and manually operable means on the base unit to lower the platform and film thereon relative to said projection unit preparatory to moving the platform in the base unit, the platform normally biased upwardly to a projection position in close proximity to said light slit.

6. The structure of claim 5, and means in the base unit normally releasably locking the means to drive and the means to turn said platform and releasing such means for further adjustments of the platform when said manually operable means is utilized to lower the platform.

7. The structure of claim 1, and said means to drive the platform comprising a carriage upon which the platform is mounted, rectilinear ways for the carriage, and a rotatable lead screw having threaded engagement with the carriage to drive it in opposite directions.

8. The structure of claim 7, and said means to turn the platform comprising a spindle carrying the platform, a rotary gear on the carriage and turning relative to said spindle and carriage, driving connecting means between the gear and platform, and additional gearing connected with said gear to turn the same in opposite directions a full 360.

9. The structure of claim 8, and said additional gearing including a long pinion gear having its rotational axis parallel to the rectilinear path of movement of said carriage, and a spur gear on the carriage and movable therewith and continually meshing with said long pinion gear in all adjusted positions of the carriage.

10. The structure of claim 9, and said rotary gear on the carriage comprising a worm gear, a worm on the carriage meshing with the worm gear and driven by said spur gear.

11. The structure of claim 1, and said adjustable means on the projection unit defining said variable width light slit including a pair of laterally movable bars having opposing parallel straight edges, and rotary screw-threaded means connected with said bars to move them laterally toward and away from each other, said adjustable shutter means comprising a pair of independently operable flexible tapelike shutter elements on the projection unit and riding on said bars longitudinally in opposing relationship and covering said light slit.

12. The structure of claim 1, and said base unit including a relatively shallow lighttight housing including a top wall transverse opening, and said projection unit having a substantially lighttight housing adapted to rest on said top wall in registration with the transverse opening, and a pair of spaced locator elements on said top wall on opposite sides of the transverse opening and adapted to receive the housing of said projection unit therebetween.

13. The structure of claim 2, and said second projection unit adjustable means including a rotary disc having plural circumferentially spaced indicia character projection windows, a light projecting head carrying said disc rotatably and allowing selected windows of the disc to be shifted into alignment with an optical projection axis above said film, and means to shift said projection head and said disc bodily transversely on said second projection unit and relative to said film.

14. The structure of claim 1, and alight collimator in said projection unit between said projection light means and variable width light slit.

15. The structure of claim 14, and said collimator comprising a plurality of equidistantly spaced parallelbaffles defining separated parallel light passages which direct light rays from said projection light means onto the film normal to the plane of the film and said platform. 

1. A machine for producing lines on photographic film and the like comprising a base unit, a film supporting platform in the base unit, means to drive the platform in opposite directions on a rectilinear path, means to turn the platform on a rotational axis substantially normal to the plane of the platform, a relatively stationary projection unit removably mounted on the base unit and having projection light means, adjustable means on the projection unit defining a variable width light slit in the bottom of the unit beneath the projection light means, adjustable shutter means associated with the last-named means on the projection unit to vary the length and starting and ending points of the light slit, said base unit having an access opening and said platform movable to a position adjacent the access opening, and a carrier for a piece of sensitized film or the like adapted to transfer the film to a position over the platform and to release the film onto the platform, the carrier then serving as a closure for the access opening.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and a second projection unit removably mountable on the base unit in replacement of the first-named projection unit and having adjustable means to project indicia characters of varying form onto said film or the like at various predetermined locations on the film.
 3. The structure of claim 1, and said film carrier embodying rotary latches which serve in one position to secure said film to the bottom of the carrier and in a second position to secure the carrier to a wall of the base unit in covering relation to the access opening, said fasteners in said second position releasing the film onto said platform in the base unit.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and a paramagnetic film supporting plate on the side of the film remote from the carrier, and magnet means on the platform adapted to attract the film supporting plate to the platform and to secure the film against movement relative to the platform during adjustment of the platform.
 5. The structure of claim 1, and manually operable means on the base unit to lower the platform and film thereon relative to said projection unit preparatory to moving the platform in the base unit, the platform normally biased upwardly to a projection position in close proximity to said light slit.
 6. The structure of claim 5, and meAns in the base unit normally releasably locking the means to drive and the means to turn said platform and releasing such means for further adjustments of the platform when said manually operable means is utilized to lower the platform.
 7. The structure of claim 1, and said means to drive the platform comprising a carriage upon which the platform is mounted, rectilinear ways for the carriage, and a rotatable lead screw having threaded engagement with the carriage to drive it in opposite directions.
 8. The structure of claim 7, and said means to turn the platform comprising a spindle carrying the platform, a rotary gear on the carriage and turning relative to said spindle and carriage, driving connecting means between the gear and platform, and additional gearing connected with said gear to turn the same in opposite directions a full 360* .
 9. The structure of claim 8, and said additional gearing including a long pinion gear having its rotational axis parallel to the rectilinear path of movement of said carriage, and a spur gear on the carriage and movable therewith and continually meshing with said long pinion gear in all adjusted positions of the carriage.
 10. The structure of claim 9, and said rotary gear on the carriage comprising a worm gear, a worm on the carriage meshing with the worm gear and driven by said spur gear.
 11. The structure of claim 1, and said adjustable means on the projection unit defining said variable width light slit including a pair of laterally movable bars having opposing parallel straight edges, and rotary screw-threaded means connected with said bars to move them laterally toward and away from each other, said adjustable shutter means comprising a pair of independently operable flexible tapelike shutter elements on the projection unit and riding on said bars longitudinally in opposing relationship and covering said light slit.
 12. The structure of claim 1, and said base unit including a relatively shallow lighttight housing including a top wall transverse opening, and said projection unit having a substantially lighttight housing adapted to rest on said top wall in registration with the transverse opening, and a pair of spaced locator elements on said top wall on opposite sides of the transverse opening and adapted to receive the housing of said projection unit therebetween.
 13. The structure of claim 2, and said second projection unit adjustable means including a rotary disc having plural circumferentially spaced indicia character projection windows, a light projecting head carrying said disc rotatably and allowing selected windows of the disc to be shifted into alignment with an optical projection axis above said film, and means to shift said projection head and said disc bodily transversely on said second projection unit and relative to said film.
 14. The structure of claim 1, and a light collimator in said projection unit between said projection light means and variable width light slit.
 15. The structure of claim 14, and said collimator comprising a plurality of equidistantly spaced parallel baffles defining separated parallel light passages which direct light rays from said projection light means onto the film normal to the plane of the film and said platform. 